SiCp surface purification treatment for fabrication of aluminium matrix composites

Abstract

Ultrasonic cleaning with organic solvent, heat treatment in nitrogen atmosphere and their combined process are performed to purify the SiC particles. SiCp/Al composites containing vol. 55–57% SiCp purified by the combined process are fabricated by pressureless infiltration. The results showed that the SiCp/Al composites fabricated with SiCp purified by the combined process possess smooth and clean interface without interface reaction products. The prepared composites exhibit an excellent thermal conductivity (252 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹), a high elastic modulus (238.01 ± 5.6 GPa) as well as a high tensile strength (432.32 ± 18.82 MPa). The proposed combined process demonstrates a better purification effect than the other two methods.

Keywords:

• SiC particles
• Purification treatment
• Pressureless infiltration
• SiCp/Al composites
• Interface